I have just found these forums after recently reengaging these fine people that work in the student loan industry. I'm hoping to get some thoughts on my situation, and possibly some advice on the best way to proceed from here.

So, here's a brief description of my story so far.

- I started repaying my student loans around 2000, and have been living in the US since then. - Because of my US residence, I've always made payments by postdated check. I would usually send them a years worth at a time and they would be cashed each month.- So, some time in 2007, it appears that my checks to CIBC had run out. (Much of this is from memory, so is a little vauge)- In early 2008, I received a call from CIBC collections dept., stating that my loans were about to default. The gave me the option of paying off the loans for an amount less than the balances (If I recall correctly), or to pay the interest and continue making interest only payments. The lady I spoke with gave me several days to assess my finances and get back to her with my desired payment method.- I was able to come up with the amount of money they were requesting, so called them back to get the information I needed to wire them the funds via Western Union. (which was discussed as the preferred method of getting them money from the US).- After numerous phone calls over several weeks, I never got to speak with them, and never received a return phone call.- After then going on vacation for a couple of weeks, I never did resume my pursuit to contact them, and other life issues consumed my attention. I never did get in contact with CIBC again after that.- Fast forward to May, 2009. We're moving back to Canada and have applied for a mortgage, at which time we discover that both of my loans have been written off (level 9 deliquency - or whatever the proper term is), and they are currently on my Equifax credit report.- Starting May 11th, I start trying to contact CIBC collections about the loans. I was told to speak with Allison, so proceeded to attempt to contact her. The closest I've gotten to speak with her was though another representative who walked to her desk and relayed messages between us. He was able to give me the loan amounts at least.- I stated to him that I would still like to discuss the loans with Allison, and asked if she would still be contacting me. His response was "probably not". - Between that time and now, I've left numerous voicemails on Allison's phone, describing my situation and giving all related info, asking her to please return my call. I never got a return phone call. In fact, after finally trying to reach her through other methods, another representative agreed to call her line for me. After she spoke with Allison, she assured me that Allison would be calling me back shortly. Of course, no phone call ever came.- Now, last Friday (June 5th), I get a call from Metropolitan Collections, saying that they had just received my accounts in their office in June 3rd, and CIBC is requesting that they be paid in full.- So, instead of taking the time to return my phone call, CIBC decided instead to put their energy towards transferring my file to a collections agency.

My goal here, is to have these loans taken care of. I have no problem paying them, but also feel that I should have the entries removed completely from my credit report. It's my feeling that as I made numerous attempts to make the payment back in 2008, I should not be held responsible for the loans defaulting. I'm hesitant to make any payments on the loans until I can get some reassurance to that effect, but it's been impossible to get in contact with anyone to discuss them.

It's seems utterly wrong that CIBC could ignore my attempts to contact them, let the loans sit there for over a year, and then when I initiate action to try and contact them and resolve things, ignore me again and then send my accounts to collections.

Any advice on how to proceed here? Is there anything I should be doing to cover myself going forward?

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